“If she danced for you? Yes, it would.”
“But why? It’s her job.”
Faye held up a hand. She wasn’t getting into this conversation with Phoebe tonight, or ever. “Just…anyone but her, okay?”
“Sure. Okay.” Phoebe went back to sipping her drink, her green eyes scanning the room. “Oh, you get a free dance tonight, by the way.”
“I…think I’ll pass. Give it to one of the others.”
With the thought of their other friends in mind, they came striding through the door, grinning at the sight before them. Faye waved them over, and then she relaxed back into her seat.
This would be a good night. It had to be.
* * *
Talia fixed her high-waisted,black leather pants as she checked herself out in the mirror, running a hand through her hair as she leaned in, fluttering her eyelashes. She was wearing a new mascara tonight, and so far, she wasn’t sure about it. Her blonde wig sat on the top of her suitcase; she’d decided to go natural tonight. It didn’t happen often, but occasionally, she preferred to change things up at the club. Okay, she was showing off her new cut; it’d cost her enough at the salon this morning.
Satisfied that she could bring in a small fortune this evening, she stepped out of the dressing room and took the long corridor towards the stage and bar. Faye was due in with friends, but Talia wasn’t sure what time they were arriving. She’d started an hour earlier than usual since she hadn’t had the opportunity to swing by Faye’s place on the way here. She’d considered it, but Saturday was always big money, so she’d headed straight for the club.
As she stepped out into the open, Talia scanned the room for any of her regular clients. She smiled in the direction of a group who always spent their Saturday evening here and headed towards them. Nine times out of ten, at least five of the seven wanted a private dance.
But then she stopped mid-stride when she saw Faye was already here…with Jensen in her lap.
Seeing another dancer with Faye shouldn’t have bothered Talia, it wasn’t like they were a thing, but it did. It hurt deep in the pit of her stomach. Because for the last several weeks, Faye had told Talia she would never want Adria to dance for her again. She’d assumed that was because of how Faye felt regarding the club, but it seemed not. It was justTaliathat she didn’t want dancing on her.
It’s a public dance. Lighten up a little…
Talia cleared her throat and bypassed the group she was heading for. She needed a second to gather herself; she’d never come into work with personal stuff on her mind. But this did feel personal. Because for the number of times she’d told herself that Faye wouldn’t be the woman for her, she still didn’t believe it. Faye, in the last few weeks, had only pulled Talia in that little bit more with each evening they spent together. She was kind, she had the most heartwarming laugh, and they actually shared a lot of things in common. Mainly books and coffee, but there were very few things in life more important than that.
She slipped out of view and hid inside one of the private rooms. She needed to keep calm. To remember the reasons why it didn’t matter what Faye was doing outside. But what she needed more than anything else…was to not have to watch another dancer with Faye. It was far too much. Way more than she thought it would be.It’s your job. She’s a client like the rest of them.
Except Faye wasn’t. Never.
With the slow exhale of breath, Talia clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides, and then stepped back out of the private room. She caught Faye laughing with her head thrown back, those soft hands caressing Jensen’s thighs. Light touching was acceptable, and Jensen didn’t generally care who touched her, but Talia did. She wanted Faye’s hands onher, not another woman who had only been dancing at the club for a week.
Jealousy flared deep in Talia’s belly, but she couldn’t do a single thing about it. For one, she couldn’t make a scene in here, and two…she wouldn’t air her private business in public.
She swallowed the lump of emotion she felt rising in her throat, preventing the tremble of her bottom lip. And then she strode across the floor, stopping at Faye’s booth. Phoebe was eyeing Talia, she always did, and then she nodded towards her lap, an eyebrow quirked as she held up cash between them.
Talia had never been the jealous type, she couldn’t be in this line of work, but tonight the green-eyed monster was ready to have the time of its life. She climbed over Faye’s knees and straddled Phoebe’s lap. Phoebe had that familiar look in her eye, one that told Talia she was more than capable of rocking her world, so Talia leaned down towards Phoebe’s ear, and whispered, “You can touch a little…”
Phoebe’s hands landed on Talia’s ass. Considering Phoebe didn’t like Talia, she had a funny way of showing it. “You look amazing tonight. You should lose the blonde for good.”
Talia offered a single nod. “Noted.” And then she went to work on her client, reminding every last dancer in this club why she was the best.
She glanced to her left, her heart stumbling when Faye made eye contact. And then she saw tears brimming in those beautiful eyes, her skin tingling as Faye looked back at her with enough hurt to tear Talia in two.This is why you’ll never be good enough for her!
And then the moment was gone, Faye’s gaze pulled towards Jensen as she ground in her lap, her fingers stroking Faye’s jawline.
Talia focused on the job she was here to do and lost herself in the music—the beat as it thrummed through her body—and imagined she was in a room that didn’t include Faye. She could go one better and imagine it was Faye she was dancing for, but with the way she was feeling about her lately, Talia wasn’t sure what she was capable of right now. The last thing she needed was to get so lost in her mind that she wound up kissing Phoebe, thinking it was Faye. It was best if she blocked Faye from her mindentirely.
Phoebe stuffed several notes into Talia’s bra, patting her backside as she urged her up out of her lap. Talia glanced to the side of her only to find Faye had disappeared. “Where has she gone?” Talia asked when Phoebe stood toe-to-toe with her.
“Into a private room.” Phoebe winked, and then she walked away.
Talia’s mind swam. She knew what shouldn’t happen in those rooms, whatdidn’thappen, so why was she imagining Faye naked with Jensen? This was too much to deal with tonight.
She shook her head as she moved towards the bar, stepping behind it as though she was getting one of her clients a drink. Here, she had access to the CCTV in the private rooms. It was for the dancer’s security, so anyone who could have eyes on it was encouraged to do so.